Ireland XO
Back to Message Board

Searching for any info on great-great grandmother Anna O'Brien

OffalyRahan, County Offaly (formerly King's County)

Hi there! I just discovered this site today after doing a search for "Rahan, King's County"....I've been doing some casual genealogical research over the past couple of years and recently contacted a librarian here in California (Sacramento) to get information on my Great-great grandparents....One came from Italy, the other from Ireland. the librarian found an obituary for my great-great grandmother Anna O'Brien and in it it describes her coming to California with her sister-in-law Eliza O'Brien somewhere in the 1870's! I would love to find out more (if that is possible). Any leads would be so welcome!

I'm attaching the article for reference!

thank you!

Dina

glam72

7 replies

Hi,

Can you provide more info? Your ancestor's approximate year of birth? Her husband's name? Children's names (in order)? Any other info?

Thanks.

glanvil3@aol.com

Local volunteer contacted.

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

HI there! She was born in December 1853, her husband's name was Alphonse Bertolina (but often spelled Bertolini), and her children's names were Mary, George and Leo (Leo was my great-grandfather).

Hope this helps!
Dina

glam72
Hello Dina I am originally from Rahan, sorry only seeing your message now Anyhow I came across the 1880 US census for them I think (using his name) I does say Alphonse is Italian but no country of origin for Anna In the 1890 US census is says Anna's place of birth is New York and her father and mother birthplace Ireland. Would you think her parents went to USA too Where did you get the Rahan, Kings County from Anna s records Dina rahan@irelandxo.com
Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer
Dina Just going back to your original message She went to California with her Sister in Law - Eliza O'Brien, so does that mean Anna was married to Eliza's brother or Eliza was married to Anna's brother. Just the sister in law bit confuses me. Both of them have the same last surname. Do you have the information the librarian found for you, would love to have a look at it if that would be ok. The other thing have you done or would you consider doing your DNA which might also help with finding relatives/narrowing down areas etc. Also have you found their marriage cert, does it tell Anna's parents names
Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer
Hi Geraldine! Sorry I'm just now seeing your first message from October! So I too saw that census record but everything else I've been able to look at indicates she was born in Ireland - NOT New York per that census. I don't know exactly who Eliza is, but it seems to me that maybe she was married to Anna's brother (why they both have O'Brien as last name?) I have done my DNA but it's not giving me specific areas in Ireland - it's narrowed it down to 10 regions out of 26! I have not located their marriage certificate unfortunately - the best thing I have is that obit I attached earlier that I got from the librarian here! Thanks for your response! I have a feeling this is a bit of a goose chase without further information!!! Happy Holidays! Dina Robinson
glam72

Hello Dina

Have you hat any further with your research.  I could not see the Obit, if you could send it to me on rahan@irelandxo.com I will see if I can figure out any more 

Thanks

Geraldine

Geraldine Buckley-Smith, Ireland XO VolunteerIrelandXO Volunteer

Reply

Reply
One image file up to 2 MB.